June 2017
Volume 58, Issue 8
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2017
Anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in diabetic retinopathy patients
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Stephanie C Joachim
    Experimental Eye Research Institute, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
  • Sandra Kuehn
    Experimental Eye Research Institute, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
  • Gesa Stute
    Experimental Eye Research Institute, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
  • Nikolaos Tsiampalis
    Experimental Eye Research Institute, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
  • Minh-Khoa Vu
    Experimental Eye Research Institute, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
  • Teresa Tsai
    Experimental Eye Research Institute, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
  • Vinodh Kakkassery
    Experimental Eye Research Institute, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
  • Burkhard Dick
    Experimental Eye Research Institute, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Stephanie Joachim, None; Sandra Kuehn, None; Gesa Stute, None; Nikolaos Tsiampalis, None; Minh-Khoa Vu, None; Teresa Tsai, None; Vinodh Kakkassery, None; Burkhard Dick, None
  • Footnotes
    Support  Bayer Vital GmbH
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2017, Vol.58, 5217. doi:
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      Stephanie C Joachim, Sandra Kuehn, Gesa Stute, Nikolaos Tsiampalis, Minh-Khoa Vu, Teresa Tsai, Vinodh Kakkassery, Burkhard Dick; Anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in diabetic retinopathy patients. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2017;58(8):5217.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose : Diabetic retinopathy, a frequent complication of diabetes, is a leading cause of blindness in western countries. Currently, anti-VEGF monotherapy is well established and has the best treatment success. However, many treatments are necessary and about 30% of diabetic retinopathy patients fail to respond. Therefore, an additive or alternative therapy is needed as well as greater knowledge of the disease. Aim of this study was to identify possible cytokine alterations due to diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods : Vitreous samples were collected from patients with DR (mean age: 73±9) and patients with macular hole or macular pucker (control group; mean age: 62±12) during vitrectomy (n=18/group). Patients with current or past anti-VEGF therapy or similar diseases like retinal vascular occlusion were excluded from the study. Levels of pro-inflammatory, IL-1ß, IL-6 and interferon-γ (INF- γ), and pleiotropic cytokines, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-13, were quantified using commercially available ELISA kits. Additionally, the level of VEGF and VEGF A as well as PGF was measured.

Results : Regarding pro-inflammatory cytokines, a tendency to higher expression levels was noted in the DR group (IL-1ß: p=0.12; IL-6: p=0.21; INF-γ: p=0.08). A trend towards a IL-4 upregulation was also observed in DR samples (p=0.32). IL-2 (p=0.68) and IL-13(p=0.22) levels were comparable in both groups. VEGF levels were upregulated (p=0.003), also increased levels of VEGF A were detected in DR patients (p=0.002). PGF (p=0.04) was upregulated, too.

Conclusions : This project aimed to identify possible cytokine alterations in vitreous due to diabetic retinopathy. Upregulation of INF-γ, VEGF and PGF was seen in DR samples. Especially, all analyzed angiogenic factors were increased in DR patients. Further identification of cytokine alterations in DR might lead to additive treatment options in the future.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.

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